A motion on French language services will be debated on Wednesday in the Ontario Legislature.

NDP MPP France Gelinas says it calls for the government to maintain the independent office of the French Language Services Commissioner and to maintain a promise for a new French language university.

The government has said they will create the position of French Language Services Commissioner, under the auspices of the Office of the Ombudsman but Gelinas says that’s not enough.

“The independent office is a whole lot more desirable because the French language commissioner reports directly to the assembly. He can speak freely whether it’s saying something the government does or doesn’t want to hear,” she says.

She was asked if there’s enough support from individual PC MPP’s for the motion.

“I’m sort of hopeful there’ll be enough PC’s to vote in favor and we’ll be 1 step closer,” Gelinas says.

Gelinas says Finance Minister Vic Fedeli’s reason for the change is to save money but that’s not happening.

“There is a huge advantage for francophones is going back to an independent commissioner. I hope he will see this for what it is. If there’s no savings there shouldn’t be motivation to change,” she says.

Gelinas says the motion also calls for a stand alone french language university.

“The people who will go to that university will be well trained, bilingual, university educated people who will contribute to our economy,” Gelinas says.

She says there’s a $4 million dollar annual cost with that but that’s a relatively small item on a large budget.

Filed under: France Gelinas, french language